Couple survives plane crash near West Glacier

By Associated Press
Jun 28, 2011

Flathead County officials say two people escaped serious injury when a small airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from an airstrip at West Glacier.

The sheriff's department reports the plane was having engine trouble right after liftoff and the pilot was not able to turn around and land at the airstrip. The plane's engine sputtered and powered off as the plane came down at about 10 a.m. Sunday.

The impact sheared off the plane's right wing and the fuselage came to rest in a brushy area on its right side.
Doug and Kathleen Sapp, of Omak, Wash., were taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center by ambulance and have since been released.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation and Safety Board are investigating.

Doug Sapp was piloting the Fly Fisher airplane, a modified Piper, when it crashed.